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A young mother has died after giving birth to twins, following claims that she had refused a blood transfusion because of her faith.
Jehovah's Witness, Emma Gough, 22, from Telford, Shropshire, gave birth on 25 October.

The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital is refusing to comment on reports that she had refused a blood transfusion.

Family friend Terry Lovejoy, said: "They are going through an immense amount of turmoil and grief."

He added: "We follow the Bible and abstain from blood and I've got no reason to believe that Emma didn't share those views."

Patient confidentiality

Emma Gough's funeral is taking place at the Telford crematorium at 1530 GMT.

Christine Harris, who is friends with Ms Gough's mother-in-law Sham Gough, said: "The family have told me that a blood transfusion wouldn't have saved Emma."

The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital said it did not comment on individual cases because of patient confidentiality.

Spokesman Adrian Osborne said "the NHS will always investigate unusual deaths".

An inquest has been opened and adjourned for a date to be fixed.

The twins, a boy and a girl, are healthy and being cared for by their father, Anthony Gough, 24.

Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions because they believe that God has forbidden it in the Bible. They believe that accepting a blood transfusion is a sin.

Head of Science and Ethics at the British Medical Association, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, said: "If somebody believes that having blood will excommunicate them from their religious beliefs, then they will often say no and accept the risk of death."

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Very sad to hear that two little children will grow up never knowing their mummy.

I cannot condone or condemn her and her family - everyone is entitled to their beliefs - just very vey sad.

Tragic ... and sad the babies will never truley get to know their mother

I'm afraid I am upset by this as I don't see how anyone can say they would rather die and leave their two babies without their Mum rather than go against their religious beliefs.

I do respect people's belief's but not to that extent.
Surely as human beings our natural instinct is to live so this religion goes against our natural instincts. There's got to be something wrong with that.

I hope I've not offended anyone but I wanted to voice my opinion on this tragic event.